CERES (satellite)

CERES (Capacité de REnseignement Electromagnétique Spatial) is a space-based electronic signals intelligence program by France's military consisting of 3 formation-flying spacecraft.

CERES
Mission typeSIGINT
OperatorFrench Armed Forces
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerThales Alenia Space, Airbus Defence and Space
Start of mission
Launch date2021[1]
RocketVega[2]
Launch siteKourou
ContractorArianespace
 

Presentation

France has sent several signals intelligence demonstration missions into orbit. The most recent ones, the Essaim and Elisa, consisted in formation-flying spacecraft able to triangulate the location of radar and communication emitters, using the same principle as NOSS constellation. These pathfinder programs are to be replaced by an operational mission called CERES (Capacité de REnseignement Electromagnétique Spatiale), which will use 3 formation-flying satellites to locate and characterize electromagnetic emitters.[3] The launch is planned for 2021.[1] Thales Alenia Space will provide the EliteBus busses and Airbus Defense and Space the payload.[4] The program cost is estimated at 450M€.[5][6]

References
  1. "CERES". CNES. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. "Building on its 2016 successes, Arianespace looks to the future with confidence at the service of its customers" (Press release). Arianespace. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  3. (in French) DGA press release
  4. Thales Alenia Space Seeks Wider Market for Iridium Bus, Spacenews.com article
  5. (in French)"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Air et Cosmos article, 31/03/2014
  6. "The Defense Ministry Launches Production of the First European Signals Intelligence Satellite". defence-aerospace.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
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